Theme parks - what a wonderful escape from reality into another world! Here's our round up of the world's biggest and best theme parks.

1. Disneyland Park, Anaheim California

The original and, arguably, the world’s best, (if not the world’s best-known!) theme park, Walt Disney’s wonderful world began celebrating its Diamond Anniversary in 2015 and the special festivities continued through to the middle of 2016. 60 years after the gates first opened, and countless millions of visitors later, with the addition of a second theme park – California Adventure - the fairy dust never stops showering down on The Happiest Place on Earth!

Each international Disneyland Park incorporates all of the magical ingredients that represent the original Disneyland brand, but each also includes cultural elements specific to its location – and Tokyo Disneyland is now the third most visited theme park in the world! Shanghai Disney Resort will open in China mid-2016.

3. Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando Florida

Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom opened in Orlando in 1971 and grew into a resort that is now so extensive it covers over 11,000ha and has over 30 hotels and resorts, four theme parks – the amazing Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom - two water parks and even a camping resort!! No wonder they call it a ‘world’!

4. Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles California

Combine Hollywood and a theme park and this is one HOT experience for all ages! A California family holiday is incomplete without a visit to this thrilling theme park. Rides, shows, and a real working movie studio, Universal Studios Hollywood will take you on journeys through some of your favourite movies – behind-the-scenes on the lot and on rides that emulate the excitement and fun of those movies, including Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, Transformers™: The Ride-3D and the latest addition - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ opening April 2016!

Universal Studios Orlando, Florida opened in 1990 and features Universal’s Islands of Adventure (including the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park®), Wet ‘n’ Wild Waterpark and – of course – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™!

5. Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan

Located in Osaka, USJ’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ in 4K3D and Flight of the Hippogriff™ join Jurassic Park – The Ride ®, Jaws ®, and Back To The Future® rides, as well as Sesame Street Fun World™, Shrek’s 4-D Adventure™ and Hello Kitty Avenue plus many more attractions, to deliver an awesome Universal Studios experience for all ages. Over 100 million visitors have gone through the gates since USJ opened in 2001!